Ms Dhoni steps down as RPSG skipper

February 19, 2017

Former Indian captain Ms Dhoni, who stepped down as captain in ODI and T20I, now stepped down from captaincy of Rising Pune Supergiants. RPSG made their debut in 2016 and finished the season at the bottom of the points table. So, the fact is that Australia’s Steve Smith is one of the good captain for his country in recent times.

Despite stepping down as captain of RPSG, he would contribute to Rising Pune Supergiants as player. Now, it helps Dhoni can bat without pressure. Dhoni is one of the experienced and most important player of the side. Australia’s Steve Smith will take over the captaincy from Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

“Dhoni has not stepped down. We have appointed Steve Smith as the skipper for the upcoming season. Frankly speaking, we did not have a good last season and we wanted someone young to lead the side and revamp it ahead of the upcoming season 10,” Rising Pune Supergiants owner Sanjiv Goenka told PTI.

“I have the highest regard for MS Dhoni as a leader and a person. Dhoni continues to be an integral member of our team. He is supportive of the decision keeping the franchise’s best interests in mind,” Goenka added.

Dhoni can play destructive innings as a player. After he resigned the ODI and T20I captaincy before England series, Dhoni scored a 100 and a fifty in an ODI and T20I series respectively against England.

When it comes to select the RPSG skipper, it was much difficult to RPSG management. Faf du Plessis, one of the good captain for South African Cricket Team. But, RPSG made Steve Smith as new captain of RPSG. The reason is Faf will leave IPL early for ODI series and Steve Smith will play full season.

Under his captaincy, Rising Pune SuperGiants won just 5 games out of 14 matches. Dhoni scored just 284 runs from 12 innings including a fifty. He captained Chennai Super Kings since the first edition of IPL and he won 2 IPL trophies. Dhoni also won the Champions League twice, one in 2010 and another in 2014.